There are lots of reasons why monthly dividend payers (MDPs) are so attractive for yield-starved investors. After all, why should we settle for four quarterly dividend payments every year when we could just as easily get 12?… Read More

It looks like Carl Icahn was on to something. Last year, he tried to acquire the The Greenbrier Companies (NYSE: GBX) for $22 a share, an offer that was subsequently rebuffed by management. In November, I cautioned that it was unwise to follow… Read More

If a rich yield is your goal, then few investments can compete with mortgage real estate… Read More

Bond yields are at record lows, which has caused many income-seeking investors to turn to high-yield stocks, while others have supplemented dividend payments with income from… Read More

There are lots of reasons why monthly dividend payers (MDPs) are so attractive for yield-starved investors. After all, why should we settle for four quarterly dividend payments every year when we could just as easily get 12? MDPs are perfect for investors who want a check in the mail every month. This steady source of income can be especially valuable for retirees, students or anyone trying to live on a fixed income. By including MDPs in your portfolio, it’s possible to start generating enough monthly income to… Read More

There are lots of reasons why monthly dividend payers (MDPs) are so attractive for yield-starved investors. After all, why should we settle for four quarterly dividend payments every year when we could just as easily get 12? MDPs are perfect for investors who want a check in the mail every month. This steady source of income can be especially valuable for retirees, students or anyone trying to live on a fixed income. By including MDPs in your portfolio, it’s possible to start generating enough monthly income to cover bills for the mortgage, utilities or to start saving for a vacation.  MDPs can also increase your compounding rate. By reinvesting dividends, investors put every dollar back to work buying more shares. These in turn earn more dividends, creating a “snowball” effect. By investing in an MDP paying a steady 5% and reinvesting dividends, your investment would more than double in 13… Read More

It looks like Carl Icahn was on to something. Last year, he tried to acquire the The Greenbrier Companies (NYSE: GBX) for $22 a share, an offer that was subsequently rebuffed by management. In November, I cautioned that it was unwise to follow Icahn into this crowded stock because once he loses interest (as he often does when pursuing his prey), shares tend to wilt.  And that’s precisely what happened with Greenbrier. Read More

It looks like Carl Icahn was on to something. Last year, he tried to acquire the The Greenbrier Companies (NYSE: GBX) for $22 a share, an offer that was subsequently rebuffed by management. In November, I cautioned that it was unwise to follow Icahn into this crowded stock because once he loses interest (as he often does when pursuing his prey), shares tend to wilt.  And that’s precisely what happened with Greenbrier. Yet we can add a fresh twist to the much-ballyhooed “Icahn effect.” The legendary investor may be known for too many head fakes, but after he walks away, then real value may emerge. Indeed, it now looks as if Icahn was on the right track in his ardor for this stock, as just-released quarterly results show. As it turns out, Greenbrier and another transportation firm, Wabash National (NYSE: WNC). may be shaping up to be top gainers in 2013.#-ad_banner-# Replacing the fleets Greenbrier, a leading provider of railroad cars, and Wabash, a top provider of truck trailers that ply… Read More

If a rich yield is your goal, then few investments can compete with mortgage real estate investment trusts (REITs).#-ad_banner-# These stocks currently pay exceptional 9-19% dividend yields. In a world where U.S. Treasuries yield just 2%,… Read More

If a rich yield is your goal, then few investments can compete with mortgage real estate investment trusts (REITs).#-ad_banner-# These stocks currently pay exceptional 9-19% dividend yields. In a world where U.S. Treasuries yield just 2%, these REITs truly offer extraordinary performance. Mortgage REITs can afford to pay outsized dividends because they must distribute the majority of their income to investors and utilize leverage — borrowing money at low rates and investing in high-yielding mortgage securities — to amplify shareholder returns.  Despite generous dividends, prices for mortgage REITs took a beating in the second half of 2012, after the Federal Reserve launched a $40-billion… Read More

If the winter blues have you thinking of heading off to a warm, sunny destination, you might find a hotel, flight or car rental deal through the online travel site, Expedia (Nasdaq: EXPE). Expedia is the largest online travel agency in the United States, based on bookings. It generates the… Read More

Chances are you likely had a successful year in the stock market.  Despite all the gloom and doom ranging from “Fiscal Cliff” fears to the threat of a global… Read More

Fifty years after Yugoslavian President Josip Tito founded the Non-Aligned Movement, the economies of the association’s roughly 120 nations have grown in excess of 5% per year on average, while larger developed economies in North America, Europe and Japan have slowed to a crawl. Yet, it’s easy to forget the… Read More